So maybe you’ve been practicing meditation for a while and deserve a prize (like all that peace and zen isn’t enough!) or maybe you want to meditate, but could use a little boost to get in to it. Either way, we’ve got some recommendations.

If you’re already a pro, you can skip this first section, or you can use the info to help convince your friends to join you 😉.

A Few Awesome Facts (and Stats) About Meditation 

Turns out, A LOT of people meditate… 

• An estimated 200 – 500 million people meditate globally 
• In 2017, 14.2% of U.S. adults said they practiced meditation 
• Of that group, women were more likely to practice meditation than men (16.3% compared to 11.8%) 

… and there’s good reason why. 

• Meditating for just 10 minutes a day can reduce stress and anxiety
• Meditation, when combined with other mindfulness techniques, may be as effective as medication in treating depression
• One study found that a semester of meditation helped college students improve concentration and overall academic performance

5 Tips to Improve Your Meditation Game 

Meditation has lots of benefits for your health and well-being, but making it a priority can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you make it a part of your daily routine. 

1. Create a Zen Den to Help You Focus

If you ever needed an excuse to convert an area of your home into your very own boho dream space, this is it. A quiet, cozy environment is a perfect setting to help you chime into mindfulness and access that much-needed zen. 

To start, make your meditation area look and feel comfortable. For instance, this Paya Meditation Cushion is a great accessory that’s just as pleasing to the eye as it is for your mind. Couple it with a few more pillows and your favorite incense to complete your mindfulness space. 

2. Start Time Blocking Meditation into Your Schedule

If you’re busy, you probably have a daily calendar that details how you spend every minute of your day. Use the same strategy to fit in time for meditation. 

For example, if you spend 30 minutes in the morning catching up on news or checking your LinkedIn, time block 10 minutes of that time in your schedule just for meditation. Having a reserved time and place for meditation increases your likelihood of success. 

Plus, starting your morning with meditation is a perfect holistic approach to increasing your productivity and focus throughout the rest of your day. 

3. Invest in Comfortable Clothes to Help You Relax

For the record, you can wear whatever you want when you meditate. But, breathing in and out and relaxing is difficult if you’re wearing a power suit. For the best results, wear something comfortable. It could be your pajamas, lounge clothes, or your boyfriend’s jeans (we won’t judge) — just put on something that helps you get in the mindset of meditation. 

If you want to invest in something that’s equally comfortable and zen, check out this meditation shawl. It’s a handmade, crocheted piece that’ll relax you as you meditate, and pairing it with other attire designated strictly for meditating will make it that much easier to steal away and focus. 

4. Find a Community to Meditate With 

Finding a community that actively meditates is a great way to motivate yourself to keep it up. Use apps like Meetup to find your mindfulness tribe, or even participate in live Zoom meditation classes so that you get your meditation in while social distancing. 

Just be careful that your computer isn’t too much of a distraction! It may be helpful to connect to two or three Zoom meetings a week just to hold yourself accountable. On the days that you don’t meditate with an online group, turn off your computer (and get rid of that phone) so you can truly isolate yourself and focus. 

5. Get Rid of Distractions

Having a dedicated location and time to meditate is a great start, but you’ll find that your mind wonders and distractions abound once you actually sit down to focus. So how do you clear your mind of distractions? 

Start with getting rid of your phone. This Digital Detox Pouch is a great way to put your device out of site and mind. Plus, it has room for three phones if you’re ever meditating with a group. 

And on that note… 

6. Take a Sound Bath Class from Time to Time 

Meditation doesn’t have to be done in complete silence. After all, you’re surrounded by the sounds and vibrations that emanate from your environment, which defines its own rhythm and tone in its own natural way. 

You can take this a step further and immerse yourself in a sound bath. Sound baths aren’t meant to be done on your own — you’d have to buy the instruments and you’d also have to play them, which doesn’t work for your purposes. 

That’s why you should attend a sound bath session instead. In these sessions, a professional creates soothing, repetitive notes at different frequencies by rubbing a mallet against the rim of multiple crystal bowls, cymbals, or other objects. The ethereal effect helps escalate your mind and body so that you can actually leave your troubles at the door and meditate.

Due to COVID-19, you’ll have to settle for online classes at the moment, but when you can, invest in one of these therapeutic classes as a treat to yourself. You won’t regret it! 

Have more tips to help with meditation? Leave them in the comments!